Reset switch mechanism



Feb. 7, 1961 Filed July 31, 1956 Fig. I

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WESLEY E. LAZOTT aoj 751017 lllfirmmd ATTORNEYS Feb. 7, 1961 w. E.LAZOTT 3 RESET SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2WESLEY E. LAZOTT ATTORNEYS United States Patent i RESET SWITCH MECHANISMWesley E. Lazott, Hopkinton, Mass., assignor to Needham ManufacturingCompany Inc., Needham Heights, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsFiled July 31, 1956, Ser. No. 601,301

8 Claims. (Cl. 317-123) This invention relates to mechanism requiring aquick working stroke and rapid return of an operating member, such as ashearing blade, stamping head, punch, etc. Rapid operation of suchmechanisms requires not only that the working stroke shall be quick butalso that the return stroke to initial position shall be immediate. Inaccordance with my invention I preferably employ a solenoid as the powermedium for the working stroke and quick acting resilient means foreffecting the return stroke. The working stroke is initiated by a fingeroperated switch in the solenoid circuit and associated therewith andwith the operated head is mechanical means for opening the circuit andpermitting immediate return of the head to initial position at apredetermined point in the forward travel of the head. The production ofnovel mechanism for performing these functions comprises the primaryobject of the invention.

In Patent 2,795,816 dated June 18, 1957, is disclosed a machine forsevering patties from an extruded strip of ground meatand employing asolenoid operated knife together with a relay-controlled system forbreaking the solenoid circuit and permitting return of the knife toinitial position at a predetermined point in the forward travel of theknife. My invention herein relates particularly to an improved,relatively simple and more economical mechanism for performing thisfunction. Also while the invention is particularly adapted for use in astrip severing machine of the nature herein illustrated it will beunderstood that it is also useful in various other machines of a similarnature.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an elevation, partially broken away, of a hamburg pattyforming machine employing the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of knife operating mechanismembodying the invention, and illustrating some parts in section,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing switch operating mechanism in openswitch position,

Fig. 4 is a like view with the mechanism in switch closed position,

Fig. 5 is a further fragmentary view showing the switch released to openposition,

Fig. 6 is a like view with one part in a further advanced position, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated the invention as.employed in a meat patty severing machine of the nature disclosed insaid copending application. The machine is in the form of an attachment10 adapted to be secured by an adaptor 12 to the delivery end of a meatgrinding machine. The attachment is constructed to extrude the groundmeat into a ribbon like strip 14 and onto a paper strip 16 drawn from asupply roll 18. The paper and meat strips feed onto and downwardlyPatented Feb. 7, 1961 along an inclined tray or platform 20 and areenclosed beneath a cover 22 pivoted to the machine at 24, all of whichare more fully disclosed in said copending application.

A strip severing knife 26 is mounted for reciprocation within an opening28 extending transversely across the tray 20, the knife being supportedfor reciprocation by screws 30 extending through slots 32 in the knife.Tension springs 34 having their ends connected to the screws 30 and tothe knife at 36 normally hold the knife in raised position with itscutting edge disposed above the tray as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7.The knife is connected at 38 to the core 40 of a solenoil 42 disposedbeneath the knife. Energizing of the solenoid is adapted quickly to drawthe knife downwardly and sever a predetermined length patty from the endof the strip. The patty thereupon slides downwardly of the platform bygravity.

The movements of the knife are automatically controlled to sever equallength patties from the advancing end of the strip. The mechanism forperforming this function includes a switch arm 44- extending upwardlythrough a slot 46 in the platform 23 and located beyond the knife. Thefunction of the switch arm and associated mechanism is to energize thesolenoid and operate the knife when the forward end of the extrudedstrip comes into contact with the switch arm. A block 43 carrying theswitch arm and cooperating mechanism is adjustable on and along a screwthreaded rod 50 parallel with and beneath the slot 46, an outside knob52 and bevel gears 54 being provided for rotating the rod to adjust theblock therealong. Such adjustment provides for varying the length ofpatties cut from the strip.

The circuit 56 to the solenoid includes a normally open micro-switch 58on the block 43 and having a contact button 60 adapted to close theswitch when depressed. The switch arm 44 is fixed to a shaft 62rotatably mounted in a bearing 63 on the block 48 and carrying an arm 64disposed parallel with and eccentrically of the shaft 62. An element 66is pivotally mounted on the end of the arm 64 in position to contact theswitch button 60. A link 63 pivotally connected to the other end of theelement at 69 extends downwardly through a bracket 70 and is bentlaterally to provide a foot 72. A compression spring '74 on the linkbetween the bracket 79 and a cross pin 76 normally holds the link in thefully raised position of Figs. 1 and 2 permitted by contact with ashoulder of the element 66 at 78.

The threaded rod 56 is carried at its ends in a frame 80 secured to theattachment it) at 82. A rod 84 in the frame beneath and parallel withthe rod 50 cooperates therewith at a notch 86 to support the block 48 inupright position. Pivotally mounted in the frame at one end 88 is a bail90 extending over the foot 72 and having its other end seated in an arm92 pivoted to the frame at 94. The pin 38 is rigidly carried by andextends outwardly at 95 from the head 96 of the solenoid core and into aslot 97 in the arm 2. The arrangement is such that downward movement ofthe core pivots the bail into engagement with the foot 72 and pivots theelement 66 downwardly about the arm 64 to the position of Fig. 5.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows. As theextruded strip 14 moves forwardly beyond the knife it comes into contactwith and pivots the switch arm 44 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and inbroken lines in Fig. 1, thus rotating the shaft 62 and moving theelement 66 to switch closing position (Fig. 4). The solenoid isthereupon energized and causes downward movement of the knife to severthe strips l4--l6. Downward movement of the solenoid core also operatesthrough the pin 95 to pivot the bail 90 into contact with the foot 72and pivot the element 66 about the arm 64 to the position of Fig. 5,thus opening the switch 58 and de-energizing the solenoid. The knifethereupon immediately returns to its initial position-and the severedpatty 98 slides downwardly over the depressedswitch arm 44. It will beunderstood that the parts are set to a predetermined position toopen theswitch. 58 directly following the passage of the knife through thestrips 14-16.

' By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the element 66 and link63 remain in the depressed position of Fig. 5 even though the bail 98has been elevated with the return movement of the knife, and that thepatty 98 still maintains the switch arm 44 in depressed position. Thepatty is moving in the direction of the arrow and when it leaves the arm44 the latter will immediately return to the initial position of Figs. 1and 3 as will also the link 68 and element 66. This function is due tothe leverage shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the spring 74 is unable toreturn the parts to initial position until the arm 44 has resumed itsinitial position. Thus the mechsaid mechanical means being adapted torelease the knife operating power by opening said circuit.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said means operativelyassociated with the shaft includes an arm mounted eccentrically on theshaft and carrying a member operatively associated with the switch.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which the last named member ispivotally mounted .on the arm and said mechanical means includes a linkconnected to said' the shaft is rotated to said advanced position, andmeans The primary object of the invention resides in the relaterminedpath, a knife disposed transversely of said path, power operatedmechanism for moving the knife forwardly to sever the strip, resilientmeans for returning the knife to initial position, tripping mechanismincluding a controlling member in the path of movement of the stripbeyond the knife and disposed to be operated by contact of the striptherewith for causing the power operated mechanism to operate the knifeand sever the strip, and mechanical means for automatically releasingthe knife operating power from said power operated mechanism andpermitting return of the knife to initial position at a predeterminedpoint in the forward travel "or the knife.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said power operatedmechanism is electrically operated, a circuit therefor including anormally open switch, a rotatably mounted shaft, said controlling membercomprising a finger fixed to and adapted to rotate the shaft by contactof the strip with the finger, and means operatively associated with theshaft for thereupon closing the switch,

for automatically moving the element to another position on the shaftwherein the switch is opened when the core reaches a predeterminedposition in its travel into the solenoid. h

6. The combination defined in claim 8 in which said pivot axis isdisposed ecceritrically of the rotary axis of the shaft. T

7. The combination defined-in claim 5 plus means including a spring forreturning theelement to said initial open-switch position after theswitch arm has returned to initial position, and means preventing saidreturn of the element to initial position until the switch arm hasreturned to initial position. i

8. In combination, a solenoid including a core, means including anelectric circuit through the solenoid and a switch therein forenergizing the solenoid and drawing the core thereinto when the switchis closed, a shaft, a switch arm connected to and adapted to rotate theshaft from an initial position to an advanced position, an elementpivotally mounted on the shaft and cooperating with and adapted in oneposition thereon to close the switch when the shaft is. rotated to saidadvanced position, and means for automatically moving the element aboutits pivot axis to another position .on the shaft wherein the switch isopened when the core reaches a predetermined position in its travel intothesolenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

